Ultraviolet confers with me on a point of editing
August 28th is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. My heart is heavy with so many kitties who have left us and I won’t be able to mention them all here. Their stories are detailed in my book Catwoods. Ultraviolet, our most recent loss, isn’t in Volume 1, which only goes to early 2005.
She showed up amidst a friend’s ferals. She was friendly but we couldn’t find anyone who claimed her, so in August of 2017, we brought her inside. She helped me edit the book in 2018 when it was finally coming together. She made the cutest little “oop, eep” sounds whenever she approached one of us to jump up for pats, scritches, and purrs.
She left us on September 3, 2018. All cat loss is difficult but her loss was, and still is, especially heartbreaking for me. She had just had a good report at her annual vet checkup. She was estimated to be only about 11 years old, and many of our cats have lived well into their teens. She was with us for only a little over a year. She was an exceptionally sweet cat.
On her whiskers you can see a bit of rainbow from the sunlight in the first picture. In the one below, I was using the color enhancer in the camera and the strong sunlight bounced around, sending rainbow color everywhere.
Afternoon with Ultraviolet
Now she’s at the Rainbow Bridge, invisible to me. She does stay in my heart.
I want to thank Deb Barnes of Zee and Zoey’s Cat Chronicles, author of Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond, and founder of Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, for creating this day of remembrance.
I may be slow to answer comments. On Friday we have the potential for severe weather due to being on the eastern side of Hurricane Laura; I’m posting early because of that. And, I’m just draggin’ these days. NOTE: The bad weather did stay north of us so we’re okay, we dodged another bullet.
We are entering The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey‘s Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 2020 – Purr Prints of the Heart Blog Hop. (This is the first blog hop we have ever entered.)
I live near a creek in a forest, in close observation and awe of the wildlife outside, as well as the domestic animals of the household. I'm writer Leah T. Alford. I was "catwoods" on this site Catwoods Porch Party, Itchmo Forums for Cats and Dogs, and a few other sites that may or may not exist now. I have now published a book, and the publisher wanted it called Catwoods. I never expected the book title to be the same as my username, so for now I've changed the username to Leah. For more info, click the "About" button above.
Catwoods Porch Party 
When we lose a Cat or Kiiten it is heartbreaking. I’ve never forgotten one I’ve lost.
It sure is hard and I am sorry for your loss, too, Dan. Thank you for your kind words.
I was thinking of all our babies, too. Katniss’s little house is still outside – sometimes the squirrels use it. Sending you an empathic hug!
Awww Kerry, I know how you miss them … I miss all ours so much too. Hugs and purrs in return. ❤
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my condolences on the loss of Ultraviolet🥺 she was a lovely sweet lady🥰 she spent her last days feeling loved and appreciated🤍 stay safe!
Follow @everythingtips for tips and recommendations if interested! It would mean a lot to me!🥺🤍
Thanks for your kind words, everythingtips, I appreciate it!
It never gets easier to lose a pet… there’s just no way of getting used to it. There is a phenomenon, at least in my experience, that occurs for weeks… or sometimes months… after a feline friend leaves the physical plane. I see the flick of an orange tail around a door, or see a black shadow scurrying up the stairs or hear a meow from the corner where there is no cat. They are still with me in some form and that is comforting. I think it’s wonderful that Ultraviolet had such a lovely final year.
Thanks RMW, I have had feelings of having seen a kitty that has left us, or felt their presence somehow and yes, it is comforting, as you say. I do treasure the memory of that year, I just wish we’d found each other sooner …
The only downside is that they have such short lives, and it’s extremely hard to see them go, not to mention letting them go. Each one unforgettable.
So true, David, and I can’t ever forget them and I wanted them to be remembered, always. So I started writing about them in 2004 after several losses … I wouldn’t trade the experiences of having them in the home for anything but it sure is hard when they leave us.
Ultraviolet was gorgeous! You were both lucky to have each other so sorry it was not for long!
Thank you so much for your kind sympathy, I appreciate it! I wish we could have had a longer time with her, too.
What a beautiful kitty she was and so very special💗Soft Pawkisses as you remember your purrecious Angel🐾😽💞
Thank you so much, Little Binky and Granny, I appreciate it. Purrs and Meows!
Lovely memories and pictures of Ultraviolet.
We hope the weather wasn’t as bad as expected and you are all well.
Thank you so much Yvon, I appreciate it. As it turned out the bad weather went north of our area, they never know until the last minute where it will form, and travel.
We’re glad you are allright 👍🌈🌞
It’s so sad and some we are a bit more connected with. We’ve lost 4 of our kitties this year alone and one last year. It’s been awful. Sorry for your losses, Leah.
Thank you for your kind sympathy, Candace. And I am so sorry for the loss of your kitties too. It’s very hard to lose animal friends and especially rough when the losses are close together in time.
She looks beautiful😍💖
Thank you Victoria, I appreciate it and I know Ultraviolet would too!
What a precious girl, thanks for sharing her story. Hugs.
Thank you Catscue, I appreciate your kind words and I know Ultraviolet would too. Meows!
Charlee: “What a pretty kitty she was!”
Chaplin: “Our Dada said to tell you ‘Ultraviolet’ is also the name of his favorite song by U2, whoever they are.”
Charlee: “I think Dennis would have called them ‘faymus minstrels’, probably.”
Lulu: “We’re glad to hear that the severe weather avoided you!”
Thank you Charlee and Chaplin and Lulu, I appreciate your kind words about Ultraviolet and good wishes about the storms, and I know Ultraviolet would too. I listened to a little of the song, it sounds interesting, I’ll listen in more depth when time opens up. Meows, and Woofs!
Ultraviolet was beautiful. I am sorry your time with her was short. Sending you hugs as you remember your angels. XO
Thanks Ellen, I appreciate your kind words. Hugs and purrs in return as I know you are missing some angels at the Rainbow Bridge too. XO
I hope you will come out of the other side of the storm relatively unscathed.
Best wishes,
Tanja
Thanks Tanja, I think it’s going to stay north of us this time.
That’s good to know. I hope you will have a pleasant weekend with your purry, furry friends, those alive and those alive in your memory. 😸
Pets are family. Period.
Absolute truth, Tom! Thank you for commenting.
I’m reading this sweet remembrance with tears. It’s always so hard when they leave but I’m happy you got to enjoy time with her before she left for the rainbow bridge.
Thank you Susanne, I appreciate your kind words, and I do find it a comfort that since she only had a short time to live, we were able to give a home before she left for the Rainbow Bridge.
We so understand about that good Vet report thing. Ultraviolet was a real beauty. Hugs from all of us.
Thanks so much for your kind words and I hear you about the vet reports. I sure wish kitties could tell us about symptoms that might point to earlier diagnosis of any health problems. Hugs and purrs in return, and sympathy for the loss of your Angel Zoe.
Love me a rainbow, Leah, and I do believe we get our felines back. This is the second time I’ve had a pair of cats and I could swear they are the same cats that I had 30 years ago with different bodies. Same personalities and everything. Stay safe and out of hurricane-harm’s way. I suspect the rainbow afterwards will be speCATular!
Pam thank you so much for your kind words and that is interesting about your feeling of having the same cats with different bodies. All of ours have been so different that I haven’t yet seen any I would think were the exact same kitties. I do have one boy kitty, Boss, who has a gaze similar to the gaze of the girl kitty on the cover of the book, The Minx, but he’s a bit more likely to suddenly turn smacky than she was. Looks like the bad weather left over from Laura will stay north of today, they haven’t cleared us yet though. I’m partial to rainbows too! Ahahaha I love your innovation of speCATular!
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Deer Miss Leah an Franklin what a happysad post ’bout yore Ultra Violet…shee sure was beeuteefull…an shee an mee are simmylar as mee iss semi-feral…maybee UV an mee were couzinss??? May yore memoreess comfert you.
LadyMew meowed to me that shee does not go to peecess (her werdss) over ‘angelss’ Simpson, Silky-Auburn, Mingflower an Monty an Nylablue. They all spent long livess with her. Butt ‘angel’ Unkell Siddhartha was onlee here fore 4 yeerss…an shee sayss THE not havin a 4legged fore a long time iss what trulee hertss.
Pleese know wee send you lotss of ❤ ❤ an **purrss** BellaDharma an gentell (((huggiess))) LadyMew ❤
We thank you so much for your kind words and purrs and hugs, BellaDharma and LadyMew. You are right, having only a short time with a kitty makes it so much harder if they leave for the Rainbow Bridge. And Ultraviolet would only be 13 if she was still here with us today. I’m so sorry to about the loss of your Angel Siddhartha and all of your other kitties too. Hugs and purrs and <3, Leah and Franklin and The Kittens.
Ultraviolet was a beautiful kitty, Leah, and I know you miss her terribly.
Stay safe during coming days of bad weather.
Thank you Lavinia and thanks also for the good wishes. It looks like the bad weather will miss us this time, although right now weather persons say there may be a tornado down north of us, going in different direction. That gets tiresome!
I lost my last two cats within weeks of a good vet report so I’ve lost faith in “annual exams.” Unless I have some symptoms to report, they don’t see anything. Bless your little kitty. I lost one in May unexpectedly too. It’s hardest when it’s unexpected.
The unexpected really is difficult Kate, I agree. I hear you about the exams, too, I wish kitties could tell us about symptoms that might point to a diagnosis and treatment. I’m so sorry about the losses of your kitties, too.
A year is just not enough time.
It really isn’t Chuck! Thanks for commenting, I appreciate it.
Ultlraviolet was blessed to find you for her last leg of that cat life – beautiful memorial piece. And lovely capture of rainbow whiskers!
Thank you Jazz, I appreciate those kind words, and I do find some comfort in the thought that at least we were able to give Ultraviolet a home in the time before she left for the Rainbow Bridge.
Awww, such a beautiful lady. Sending purrs and hugs and stay safe.
Thank you -Eugenia, and I appreciate the good wishes too. It looks like we may get a break from storms today but they haven’t cleared us yet.
You’re welcome.
She looked like she was a wonderful kitty. It’s so sad to lose our sweet kitties.
Thanks Tim, I appreciate it, and yes, it really is so sad.
Hi. Was she your favorite among the many cats that you have had?
Hi Neil, that’s an interesting question as I don’t really think I have favorites; cats are so extremely different in character and we just end up loving them all with their differing qualities. Ultraviolet was supersweet and so was The Minx, who is on the cover of my book. Franklin however, is a little half-wild guy who it turns out, wasn’t completely socialized to humans due to probable abandonment at certain times of kitten and young cat development. Not his fault at all. We’re crazy about him but it may be a different sort of feeling than we have for the super snuggler kitties.
Very sweet and heart warming post Leah. Reading that post, my eyes burst into tears. Ultraviolet will be remembered forever and what a wonderful Sweetie she was. At least she spent her last one year or so with someone who is so compassionate, dedicated, educated and affectionate towards all non human species in general and cats in particular. My heart goes for Ultraviolet! Best! Ashraf
Thank you Ashraf, I appreciate your kind words and wish you all the best. Meows and Purrs, Leah
She spent her final time loved. You can’t beat that. Hope you feel better soon. Hugs and purrs.
Thank you Polly, I appreciate your kind words and well wishes. And you are right, I do think sometimes that at least we were able to give her a home before she left for the RB.
She was loved, and you did that, that’s the most important thing there is. Hugs.
What a lovely sweet story of love and rescue…so bittersweet at the same time.
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Thank you Meezer’sMews&TerrioristicalWoofs, I appreciate you kind words.
I’m sorry for your loss. She was a lovely lady.
Thank you Platypus Man, I appreciate it.
My condolences on the loss of sweet Ultraviolet. 💛 Stay safe and well.
Thank you Lynette, I appreciate your sympathy. We are safe from storms so far this afternoon.
Awww, hugs. She’s a beautiful lady. 😻
Thank you John, I appreciate your kind words.